Like many teen stars, Duff began her showbiz career at an early age. When she was a mere six, she was hired as a dancer with the Columbus Ballet Met touring company of The Nutcracker. Television commercials and appearances soon followed, as did acting roles in such TV films at Casper Meets Wendy in 1998. However, Duff's big-screen breakthrough in 2003 took place after she had already established herself as a star on Lizzie McGuire. First there was Agent Cody Banks, which she co-starred in with male teen star Frankie Munoz. That was followed by the big-screen version of her TV alter-ego in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, a franchise that Disney had such high-hopes for, it hired a writer to pen the screenplay to the sequel even before Duff had signed on herself.

Although negotiations between Duff and Disney fell apart, leaving any future Lizzie McGuire offerings in limbo, the film and TV show launched Duff's career as a singer. In August 2002, Duff made her singing debut on 'I Can't Wait' on the Lizzie McGuire TV soundtrack. After that proved to be a success on Radio Disney, it was followed by Santa Claus Lane, a Christmas album featuring Duff's duets with Christina Milian and Lil' Romeo, and other tracks.

More of Duff's potential as a pop starlet was revealed on the soundtrack to The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which featured two Duff songs--'What Dreams Are Made Of' and 'Why Not'--and a remix of the latter.